My name is Dara Garza, and I was always a chubby kid, but after looking at some pictures from Mother's Day at my mother-in-law's house, I decided I had to do something. I looked huge; it was no wonder since I weighed around 175 pounds at 5-feet-1/2-inch. Plus I was getting married and wanted to look pretty in my wedding dress.

I started out doing Body for Life for a while in 2001, and I lost approximately 15-20 pounds before I got married in January of 2002.

Click Image To Enlarge.January 2002.

Then I leveled off and took a break until I saw one of the girls at work was having success with Weight Watchers. I decided to try it. So, in November of 2003 I began my journey. I weighed in my first day at weight watchers at 156.6 pounds.

Click Image To Enlarge.July 4, 2003.

It took me almost a year, but by September of 2004 I was down to 115 pounds. From there I have fluctuated some up and down, and in the past year I came to realize that it wasn't just the number on the scale that mattered, I wanted to be leaner and have a healthier body. I no longer strictly follow the weight watchers plan, but I track my calories, fat and carbs.

Click Image To Enlarge.June, 2006.

I took a little break at Christmas when my sister had her new baby, but since then I have been lifting hard and doing more cardio again. I am now at around 114 pounds and 20.2% body fat. My goal is to get down to 18%, and I think I'll get there but it's going to be hard work.

I currently lift weights 4 days a week and do cardio 5 days per week. I have come to realize that what you eat is basically 90% of the battle. If I'm not eating well I can tell by the way my clothes fit and my body looks, even if I am still working out the same. I am eating 7 meals per day starting at 4:30 a.m.

I am a now a changed person. I will never go back to eating the way I did before. The biggest thing people have to realize when it comes to weight loss and having a healthier body, is that you have to take it slow and change your life, your thinking and your habits. It can't just be a diet, it has to be a lifestyle change or it won't be a long-term change for the better.